Selanne and Kovalev are two entirely different players, his worst year 7 years ago was still better than Kovalev's last season where he was putrid..

Again, have you watched Kovalev play the last 2 years? what has convinced you to think that the decline would just cease just because he's playing in Montreal? You think all of a sudden he's going to learn how to play with his teamates, whoever they are? You think he's going to finally learn that 45 second shifts are optimal for keeping players fresh on the ice? You think he's finally going to get that backchecking is also part of a winger's duties? You think he's finally going to realize that a shot on net, is just as good as taking 1 hour to pick a shot off the crossbar and in?...

There was a time when putting up with Kovalev's high maintenance ways far outweighed being without him, but the Habs have come a long way since there.

and as for Cole played 63 games away from Carolina, not exactly a sufficient sample-size to assert that he 'stunk it up' in Edmonton.

none of that changes the fact that it would be a low risk-high reward signing. Kovalev was miserable in Ottawa, and when he's not happy his play looks terrible.

all of the negative qualities you describe were present when he was in Montreal, yet most people still acknowledge Kovalev's aquisition by Gainey as a good move... why? b/c when he's on & playing well, his positives far outweigh his negatives.

1 year, 1M$ to find out how willing/able he is to come back and fit in? virtually no downside and a big positive upside... I say it's a no-brainer.